Author Topic: Too many races and events?  (Read 6961 times)

rural roamer

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Re: Too many races and events?
« Reply #15 on: 19:37:40, 22/01/18 »
We’re hoping to do the National Three Peaks this year over 3 separate holidays. But as we want to avoid the “challenges” at the weekends that’s going to mean taking more time off work.  I really don’t want to be amongst crowds of non walkers which I fear we would be.
No problem with DofEers, I did it myself rather a long time ago!  ;D

Mel

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Re: Too many races and events?
« Reply #16 on: 22:54:56, 22/01/18 »

I don’t have a “problem” at all.


I do sometime have a “tinge of concern” when somebody who doesn’t do a fair bit of walking goes straight in for a challenge such as three peaks, whatever.


I just don’t think it’s a great introduction to a wonderful hobby. I imagine that most of the people that do it, grit their teeth, get it done...and think “never again”. Hope I’m wrong.


^^^ this  O0


I'm of the thoughts that these organised events and challenges aren't "done" by regular walkers, per se, and the hills and countryside certainly wouldn't be "enjoyed" by the competitors who are probably more focussed on the competitive element (be that achieving a personal best or beating joe or jane blogs in front of them, or simply gritting their teeth and "getting through it" for a good charitable cause).


"it's walking jim, but not as we know it..."  (read to the tune of starrrrr trekking across the universe)


Personally, even though these events have turned into commercialised, money spinning hype, I don't mind coming across people doing these events - it's always a good opportunity to stop for a rest whilst I let them pass  ;D   .... after all.... I'm out on the hills for pleasure..... but are they?




barewirewalker

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Re: Too many races and events?
« Reply #17 on: 10:57:47, 23/01/18 »
Personally I couldn't care how many there are, if there are too many they will fail in the purpose intended. I get a bit P ed off, with the walking press, who try to make column inches out of them yet fail miserably to even get column mm out of Local Access Forum, the CLA's policy towards walking, Corruption of the Definitive  Map, new road plans that cut across old and new cross country routes, Local Authorities who cannot see that new housing plans should also think about getting the residents to where they can exercise.


And many more too boring issues that so called "professional writers/editors" cannot turn into a captivating story. By all means [censored]*** of and do the 3 peaks, forget (OH, no you do not know about them) 3 tumps or are they humps, spaced across south Shropshire, trapped in "Private Land", perfectly spaced to make a real challenge. Even though they have iron age remains on them.


Funny how many get so wound up about trivia, but when it takes a bit of thinking to see the real issue it's BOOOOOOOOOOOOORIIIIIING.
BWW
Their Land is in Our Country.

Oxenhoper

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Re: Too many races and events?
« Reply #18 on: 23:23:16, 09/02/18 »
A public right of way is just what it says.  People have a right to use it, for whatever purpose they choose. 
Oxenhoper was born in Burnley but had the sense to move somewhere nicer at the age of five days.

Addingham

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Re: Too many races and events?
« Reply #19 on: 04:38:44, 10/02/18 »
A public right of way is just what it says.  People have a right to use it, for whatever purpose they choose.


Agreed. ;)  Start trying to ban legal activities leads to a very slippery slope. IMHO
« Last Edit: 04:53:13, 10/02/18 by Addingham »

tonyk

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Re: Too many races and events?
« Reply #20 on: 09:53:09, 10/02/18 »
Looks like Liverpool is taking the lead and charging for business use of local parks.At the moment they are talking about a fee of £150 per year for a permit.Park-run and dog walkers will be exempt.One hundred and fifty pounds seem a bit low as some of these personal trainers are earning £50 per hour.I feel a minimum fee of £500 per year would be more realistic as its still cheap rent and rates for using taxpayer funded facilities.Parks were never intended to be free business premises so its about time action was taken against these fitness training cowboys.

Mel

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Re: Too many races and events?
« Reply #21 on: 09:56:59, 10/02/18 »

...Start trying to ban legal activities leads to a very slippery slope. IMHO  


I've obviously missed some now deleted posts somewhere .... I see no mention of anyone "wanting" to "ban" these events  ???   .... just the OP having a bit of an offload and a moan about the amount of events there are nowadays.


Oxenhoper

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Re: Too many races and events?
« Reply #22 on: 10:17:02, 10/02/18 »
There was a suggestion of "limiting the numbers".  At some level, that is going to involve telling some people that they cannot use a particular right of way on a particular day.


There are plenty of landowners who would love to be able to tell people that numbers are limited, and that the limit has been reached, so "Get off my land!". 


Be careful what you wish for.
Oxenhoper was born in Burnley but had the sense to move somewhere nicer at the age of five days.

Dyffryn Ardudwy

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Re: Too many races and events?
« Reply #23 on: 11:37:15, 10/02/18 »
Its big money for the organisers.
Road racing or specially organised mountain events, now cost serious amounts of money to enter.
A few years ago, a friend asked me whether i wanted to accompany them to Liverpool, to take part in the annual Mersey Tunnel 10k.
Apart from the pollution, it sounded like a fun idea, until i realised the entry fee was £46, not including the fuel and £10 parking fee when one got there.


Many competitors would have had to book accommodation as well, on top of all this, yet the considerable expense of these organised events, does not appear to be putting people off.


Call me mean, or a narrow minded, but spending £60 or more, with little in return, other than a very cheap medal or tee shirt, for your efforts, its not good value, and that's only for one race of possibly many throughout the year.

This is only one race, and most races he competes in cost a minimum of £40-60 to enter, and he sees nothing untoward about it.

Thousands of other like minded runners think £40+ represents great value, for very little in return.

Its no surprise that professionally organised races, be it on road or mountainside, are becoming too numerous, it represents huge revenue, once the logistical aspects of holding the race have been paid for.
« Last Edit: 11:42:49, 10/02/18 by Dyffryn Ardudwy »

RubberSoul

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Re: Too many races and events?
« Reply #24 on: 16:38:10, 10/02/18 »

In my last 8 trips I've run into these events on the Ridgeway (twice in a  row) the Lake District and the Beacons. Either I'm unlucky or there are flipping loads of them.



...The same thing be said about walkers, hikers etc. In some places they are flooded with hikers too. Non-walking types might say the same thing about you! The hills and lakes aren't for just one particular type of enthusiast surely.


BuzyG

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Re: Too many races and events?
« Reply #25 on: 20:26:19, 10/02/18 »
I have climbed Pen Y Fan twice 37 years apart.  The first time I was training in the armed services.  We saw not one other person the entire weekend up there. It was foggy mind.  The second was last year, with my son.  It was a total Turkey shoot, 50+ people on the summit, despite being -14 wind chill that day.  I'm sticking to Dartmoor and Scotland now.  There are still some quiet places out there.  :)

Oxenhoper

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Re: Too many races and events?
« Reply #26 on: 21:16:48, 10/02/18 »
Perhaps landowners should emulate train companies by charging a fee for the use of rights of way across their land.  There would be an exorbitant fee that you would have to pay if you turned up on the day but, by booking in advance, you could pay much less.  The fee could even vary depending on the time of day.


The ascent of Scafell Pike or Snowdon might command an on-the-day fee of around £250.  The three peaks of the Yorkshire Dales might be worth, say, £100 each, or £195 for the three.  A hill such as Oxenhope Stoop (SD 99380 34660) probably wouldn't fetch much more than a tenner during daylight hours.


It would certainly limit the numbers!


Damn it, I could even charge people who live further up the street to exercise their right of passing and re-passing over my land when going to and from their houses.  It needn't be unreasonable: £1 per person per passage would seem fair.   
Oxenhoper was born in Burnley but had the sense to move somewhere nicer at the age of five days.

Addingham

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Re: Too many races and events?
« Reply #27 on: 05:22:08, 11/02/18 »


I've obviously missed some now deleted posts somewhere .... I see no mention of anyone "wanting" to "ban" these events  ???   .... just the OP having a bit of an offload and a moan about the amount of events there are nowadays.


The title of the thread says it all. ;D Too many races and events?


How would you curtail them? A ban. :-X

phil1960

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Re: Too many races and events?
« Reply #28 on: 07:29:24, 11/02/18 »
It surprises me when someone mentions the Brecon Beacons, how many people say oh I’ve been up Pen y Fan, as if that’s all there is. It’s my back yard and is some 530 odd square miles, plenty of places to get away from the lemmings  ;)
Touching from a distance, further all the time.

Mel

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Re: Too many races and events?
« Reply #29 on: 08:11:14, 11/02/18 »

The title of the thread says it all. ;D Too many races and events?


How would you curtail them? A ban. :-X


Ahh, you see, I read the heading as a question (due to the question mark at the end) ...as in "(are there) too many races and events?"  That and this in the opening post ..


....is it possible there are just too many of these things....


 
That's why I thought some posts had been deleted ... no mention of looking for a solution.... a ban   :)

 

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